Pre-oiling device for engines



Feb. 4, 1969 J. E.` LAMKIN 3,425,404

PRE-OILING DEVICE FOR ENGINES Filed June 28, 1965 United States Patent O Claim ABSTRCT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for supplying lubricating'iluids to an engine prior to start-up of operationjthe apparatus comprises' a pump housing having an oil reservoir lin one end which is connected to the engine lubricating system; the oil reservoir within the housing end is defined by a exible diaphragm 'which can be spring actuated to force lubricating fluid out of the reservoir and into the oil receiving parts of the engine. The diaphragm positioning is controlled by a solenoid and latch assembly which is contained within the housing, and which is actuated to release the diaphragm such that pre-oiling lubricant' is forced into the engine.

This invention relates generally to improved devices for lubricating engines prior to the placing of the engines in operation. More particularly, but not by way of limitation, this invention -relates to an improved device useful in connection with engines vhaving an internal lubricating system including an oil pump operated yby the engine for lubricating the engines prior to placing the engines in operation.

Generally, internal combustion engines are provided with an oil pump that is internally mounted and driven by the engine. Consequently, Athe oil pump does not operate except during the operation of -the engine. The result of such an :arrangement is that the4 engine receives no lubrication except when it is in operation.

When the engine is not operated for a relatively prolonged period, such as overnight, the oil has a tendency to run off the surfaces that need to belubricated and drain into the oil reservoir of the engine. Therefore,.the -relatively moving parts of the, engine receive no lubricating oil until the eng-ine is in loperation and the pump has had time to build upsuflicient pressure to deliver the oil from the reservoir. The results of thel tests made to determine the wear in an engine have conclusively shown that the' largest percentage of engine wear occurs during the first few minutes of engine operation and, primarily, after a prolonged period of being inoperative.

Varioustypes of apparatus have been constructed in the past providing lubrication, thatl is pre-lubricatiombefore the engine is started to avoid the critical wear period. Virtually all of the previouslyconstructed pre-oiling devices have included. some form of accumulator for receiving oil from the lubricating system and some means of deliveringthe oil, generally upon closing of an electrical"switch, whereupon the accumulator vdelivers the oil into the lubricating system of the engine. Most of apparatus previously constructed have .been relatively eX- pensive, complex and lacking in reliability to positively lubricate the engine prior to thek starting thereof. v

This invention` provides an improvedpre-oiling device for use with an internal combustion engine having a.

lubricating system that includes a lubricant pump oper- ICC ated by the engine. The improved device of this invention includes a hollow housing having one end connected with the lubricating system, a flexible diaphragm mounted in the housing forming a space or chamber therein for receiving the lubricating oil, resilient means mounted in the housing-for biasing the diaphragm toward ythe end thereof connected with the lubricating system, a releasable latch mounted in the housing and cooperable with a latch member carried bythe diaphragm to retain the diaphragm in spaced relation with the end of the housing connected with the lubricating system, and means operably connected with the latch for releasing the latch whereby the resilient means moves the diaphragm to dischargev oil contained therein into the lubricating system.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved pre-oiling device that can be easily and economically manufactured.

.Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved pre-oiling device that requires little or no maintenance during its operating life.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved pre-oiling device that is positively retained in a latched position when lilled with oil and, when said latch is released, to positively discharge the oil therefrom into the lubricating system of the engine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved pre-oiling device for use with internal combustion engines -that is lled with oil and moved into the latched position by the oil pressure developed by the engine oil pump and that is releasable prior to initiating the starting of the engine so that the engine will be lubricated prior to the operation thereof.

The foregoing and additional objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent as the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts in all views and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevation view illustrating schematically the installation of a pre-oiling device constructed in accordance kwith the invention in an internal combustion engine system;

FIG. 2 is a 'vertical cross-sectional view of the pre-oiling device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along the lines 3 3 of FIG. 2 and showing the various parts thereof in another operating position; and,

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3 and illustrating the parts thereof in still another operating position.

Referring to the drawing and to FIG. 1 in particular, shown therein and generally designated `by the reference character 10 is a pre-oiling device connected by a conduit 12 with an internal combustion engine 14. An electrical system for the engine 14 and device 10 includes a conductor 16 connected to ground at one end and having the other end connected to a terminal 18 located on the pre-oiling device V10. A conductor 20, that is -part of the electrical system, has one end connected to a second terminal 22 that is also located on the pre-oiling device 10. The other end of the conductor 20 is connected with a contact 24 on an ignition switch 26 that forms a portion of the electric system for operating the engine 14.

The ignition switch 26: is connected with a storage battery 28 that is connected with ground `by a conductor 30.

It should be pointed out that the contact 24 forms only one station of the ignition switch 26. The switch 26 is preferably a multicontact ignition switch commonly used with the electric circuit normally used with internal cornbustion engines. Also, the usual generator (not shown) and voltage regulator (not shown) will be provided to maintain the storage battery 28 charged. As shown in FIG. 1, the ignition switch 26 also includes a contact 31 that is connected by a conductor 32 with the normal running circuit of the engine 14. A third contact 34 on the switch 26 is connected 'by a conductor 36 with the starting circuit of the engine 14 that generally includes an electrically powered starting motor (not shown).

The conductor 20j may be connected with the contact 34 on the swtich 26 if desired. When connected with the contact 34, the device will be actuated to lubricate the engine 14 as the engine is started.

The structure of the pre-oiling device 10 is shown most clearly in FIG. 2. As shown therein, the pre-oiling device 10 includes a hollow housing 38 consisting of a domed housing cover 40 and a lower housing portion 42.

The domed housing cover 40 includes a peripheral flange 44 and has an aperture 46 extending through the center thereof. A connecting member 48 is rigidly attached to the domed housing cover 40 and has a threaded opening 50 extending therethrough for receiving one end of the conduit 12, thereby placing the interior of the housing 38 in communication with the lubricating system of the engine 14.

The lower housing portion 42 includes a closed lower end 52 and a peripheral flange 54 extending about the upper end thereof in parallel relationship with the peripheral ange 44 on the cover 40. Previously mentioned terminals 18 and 22 extend through the lower end 52, as shown most clearly in FIG. 2, and are held therein by a pair of threaded nuts 56. A second pair of threaded nuts 58 are provided on the terminals 18 and 22 -for the purpose of securing the conductors 16 `and 20 thereto.

A diaphragm 60 is located in the housing 38 and has a configuration conforming generally to the configuration of the domed housing cover 40. The diaphragm 60 is preferably constructed from a flexible material, such as oilresistant plastic or synthetic rubber, and may be reinforced with a woven material (not shown) if desired. As shown in FIG. 2, the diaphragm 60 is folded 180, as illustrated lby the reference character 62, so that it is partially inverted or turned inside out as the housing 38 fills with uid as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A peripheral ange 64 on the diaphragm 60 is positioned between the peripheral flange 44 of the domed housing cover 40 and the peripheral flange 54 of the lower housing portion 42. A plurality of threaded fasteners 66 extend through the peripheral flange 44 of the domed housing cover 40, the flange 64 of the diaphragm 60, and through the peripheral flange 54 of the lower housing portion 42. When the threaded yfasteners 66 are tightened, the domed housing cover 40, diaphragm 60, and lower housing portion 42 are held in assembled relation forming a fluid-tight seal therebetween.

A diaphragm support plate 68, constructed from a relatively rigid material, has its upper surface in engagement with the diaphragm 60. The diaphragm support plate 68 includes an annular flange 70 that extends downwardly therefrom and generally concentrically with the wall of the housing 38.

A latch member 72, having its upper end connected with the central portion of the diaphragm support plate 68 extends downwardly therefrom terminating in a rounded nose or lower end 74. As shown in FIG. 2, the rounded nose 74 is larger in diameter than the remainder of the latch member 72, thereby forming an upwardly facing shoulder 76 on the latch member 72.

A spring 78 is disposed in the housing 38 and has its upper end in engagement with the diaphragm support plate 68 and its lower end in engagement with the lower end 52 of the housing 38. The spring 78 exerts a force on the diaphragm support plate 68, resiliently biasing the diaphragm support plate 68 and the diaphragm 60 upwardly into engagement with the domed housing cover 40 of the housing 38.

A latching device, generally indicated by the reference character 79, is mounted within the housing 38 as shown in FIG. 2. The latching device 79 includes a hollow body 80 having an upper end 82 that is provided with a centrally located aperture 84 sized to receive the nose 74 of the latch member 72. The upper end 82 is also provided with a pair of slots 86 for receiving the bifurcated ends 88 of a yoke or cam member 90 and a pair of guide portions 91 that engage ends 88 of the yoke 90 to hold the ends 88 in alignment with the slots 86. A pair of guide members 93 are attached to the `body 80, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, for guiding the yoke 90 during movement thereof. The lower end of the body 80 is connected with the lower end `52 of the housing 38.

As may be seen more clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the bifurcated ends 88 of the yoke 90 includes a pair of -upper cam surfaces 92 and each of the lower ends of the bifurcated ends 88 includes a pair of lower cam surfaces 94. Only one of the bifurcated ends 88 is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, but it should lbe understood that two ends 88 are provided as shown in FIG. 2. The lower end of the yoke is connected to a solenoid armature 96 for purposes that will be described more fully hereinafter.

A latch support plate 98 is mounted in the body 80 in spaced, parallel relation with the upper end 82 thereof. The latch support plate 98 includes an opening 100 extending therethrough sized to receive the nose 74 of the latch member 72 and a pair of spaced slots 102 that are vertically aligned with the slots 86 in the upper end 82 for receiving the bifurcated ends 88 of the yoke 90 as shown most clearly in FIG. 2.

A pair of latch jaws 104 are mounted for sliding movement between the upper end 82 and the latch support plate 98 in the body 80. While FIG. 2 illustrates only one of the latch jaws 104 (shown in elevation), FIGS. 3 and 4 each illustrate both of the latch jaws `104. FIGS. 3 and 4 show both latch jaws 104 in elevation.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the latch jaws 104 includes a cam portion 106 extending generally vertically therefrom for engagement with the yoke 90. While only one cam portion 106 is illustrated on each of the latch jaws 104, it should be understood that an identical cam portion 106 is formed thereon for engagement with the other Ibifurcated end 88 of the yoke 90.

The cam portions 106 each includes an upper cam surface 108 and lower cam surface 110. The upper cam surfaces 108 are arranged for engagement with the upper cam surfaces 92 on the yoke 90 and the lower cam surfaces 110 on the latch jaws 104 are arranged for engagement with the lower cam surfaces 94 on the yoke 90.

Each of the latch jaws 104 also includes a recess 112 (shown in dash lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in elevation in FIG. 2) in the adjacent edges thereof. The recesses 112 are sized to permit the nose 74 of the latch member 72 to pass therethrough when the latch jaws 104 are moved relatively apart (see FIG. 4) and to engage the upwardly facing shoulder 76 on the latch member 72, as illustrated in dash lines in FIG. 3, when the latch jaws 104 are moved relatively together.

The solenoid armature 96 extends downwardly from the yoke 90 through a plate 114 attached to the body 80 and into the interior of a solenoid cell 116 that is positioned in the body 80. The coil 116 is electrically connected with the terminals 18 and 22.

A stop member 118 is mounted in the lower end 52 of the housing portion 42 in a position to limit downward travel of the solenoid armature 96 and the attached yoke 90. A coil spring 120 encrcles the solenoid armature 96 between the lower end of the yoke 90 and the Iplate 114. The spring 120 is arranged to bias the yoke 90 and attached solenoid armature 96 relatively upwardly in the body 80 toward the position wherein the latch jaws 104 rare moved relatively together, (see FIG. 2 and 3).

Operation Assuming, for the purpose of explaining the operation of the pre-oiling device 10, that the engine 14 has not been operated since being connected with the pre-oiling device .by the conduit 12. Under the assumed conditions, the pre-oiling device 10 will be in the position illustrated in FIG. 2 when the ignition switch 26 is in the position shown in dash lines in FIG. l.

When the engine 14 is started by moving the switch 26 to the start position (into engagement with the contact 34) and then to the on position (into engagement with the contact 31), after the engine 14 has started, the oil pump (not shown) in the engine 14 delivers oil into the lubricating system and through the conduit 12 into the housing 38 between the diaphragm 60 and the cover 40. The introduction of fluid into the housing 38 displaces the diaphragm 60, diaphragm support plate 68, and the attached latch member 72 downwardly in the housing 38 until the latch member 72 passes through the aperture 84 in the body 80. After the nose 74 passes between the latch jaws 104, the latch jaws 104 move relatively together engaging the shoulder 76 on the latch member 72 holding the diaphragm 60 in spaced relation with the cover 40.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower cam surfaces 94 on the yoke 90 are in engagement with the lower cam surfaces 110 of the latch jaws 104. The lower cam surfaces 94 and 110 are held in engagement by the coil spring 120 that, as previously described, resiliently biases the yoke 90 relatively upwardly. It should be pointed out that as the nose 74 of the latch member 72 passes between the latch jaws 104, the latch jaws 104 are moved relatively apart. Since the lower cam surfaces 94 and 110 are in engagement, the yoke 90 is moved relatively downwardly against the force exerted by the coil spring 120 to permit the latch jaws 104 to move relatively apart so that the nose 74 of the latch member 72 can pass therebetween. However, as soon as the nose 74 has passed the latch jaws 104, they are moved relatively together as the coil spring 120 forces the yoke 90 relatively upwardly.

As is evident from the foregoing, the space between the diaphragm 60 and the cover 40 is iilled with oil from the lubricating system of the engine 14 due to the operation of the pump (not shown). If the operation of the engine 14 is subsequently stopped, the pressure in the lubricating system dissipates due to stopping the operation of the engine driven oil pump (not shown), but the oil in the ypre-oiled device 10 remains therein.

When it is desired to resume operation of the engine 14, the switch 26 is rst moved into engagement with the contact 24 as illustrated in FIG. l, thereby permitting energy to flow from the battery 28 through the switch 26, and the conductor 20 to the terminal 22, energizing the solenoid coil 116 contained in the latch body 80. Energizing the solenoid coil 116 moves the solenoid armature 96 downwardly therein, moving the attached yoke 90 downwardly therewith to compress the coil spring 120.

Movement of the yoke 90 downwardly -brings the upper cam surfaces 92 thereon into engagement with the upper cam surfaces 108 on the latch jaws 104. The engagement of the upper cam surfaces 92 and 108 forces the lock jaws relatively apart, aligning the recesses 112 in the latch jaws 104 with the aperture 84 in the `body 80. With the recesses 112 in alignment with the aperture 84, the latch jaws 104 are out of engagement with the shoulder 76 on the latch member 72, whereupon the support plate 68 and diaphragm 60 are driven upwardly toward the cover 40 by the spring 78 into the position illustrated in FIG. 4. AS the diaphragm 60 moves upwardly toward the cover 40, oil contained therein, as previously described, is driven from the pre-oiling device 10 into the conduit 12 and thence, into the lubricating system of the engine 14. Thus,

the oil from the pre-oiling device 10 lubricates the various moving parts of the engine 14 prior to placing the engine 14 in operation.

After the pre-oiling device has been energized to lubricate the engine 14, the switch 26 is moved to the start position (into engagement with the contact 34) to place the engine 14 in operation. As can be appreciated from the foregoing description, the operation of the engine 14 actuates the oil pump (not shown) to replenish the oil in the pre-oiling device 10 returning the diaphragm 60 and latch member 72 into the latched position illustrated in FIG. 3 so that the pre-oiling device 10 is in position to pre-oil the engine 14 prior to the next operational period thereof.

As can be surmised from the foregoing detailed description, the pre-oiling device 10 is relatively simple in construction. Therefore, the pre-oiling device 10 can be manufactured relatively economically. Also, the device 10 is very positive in operation, that is, the latching device 79, securely holds the diaphragm 60 in spaced relation to the cover 40 to avoid premature discharge of oil from the housing 38 and is positively released (upon energization of the coil 116) .by the cam arrangement to deliver oil to the engine 14 when desired. 'Ihe pre-oiling device 10 is automatically filled and latched so that the operator of the engine 14 need only position the switch 26 in engagement with the contact 24 to discharge the pre-lubricating oil.

It should be understood that the single embodiment described in detail hereinbefore is presented by way of example only and that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pre-oiling device for an internal combustion engine having an electrical ignition system and a lubricating system including a lubricant pump operated by the engine, said device comprising:

a hollow housing including an end having an opening extending therethrough, said opening being adapted for connection with the lubricating system;

an inversible, flexible diaphragm member having its periphery connected with said housing and disposed adjacent said end, said diaphragm member being responsive to the pressure in the lubricating system to tbe moved thereby relatively away from the end of said housing;

a rigid support member in said housing adjacent said diaphragm member;

a latch member having one end connected with said support member and having a free end projecting therefrom in a direction relatively away from the end of said housing, said free end including an annular shoulder;

a spring disposed in said housing biasing said diaphragm member toward the end of said housing;

releasable latching means mounted in said housing, said latching means including a body member mounted in said housing and having an opening therein sized to receive the free end of lsaid latch member,

a pair of latch jaws slidingly positioned in said body member and movable relatively together to engage the annular shoulder on said latch member and movable yrelatively apart to release said latch member, and

a cam member movably mounted in said body member and having surfaces thereon engaging said latch jaws to move said latch jaws relatively together and relatively apart; and,

a spring engaging said cam member and |body member urging said cam member toward a position moving said latch jaws relatively together;

a solenoid mounted in said body for actuating said latching means, said solenoid including `switch electrically connected with said coil and igni- 7 8 a coil adapted to be electrically connected With diaphragm member moves toward the end of said said ignition system, and housing. an armature movably positioned in said coil and References Cited connected with said cam member, saidarmature UNITED STATES PATENTS being responslve to energlzatlon of said coll to ,i move said cam member to latch and unlatch 311771779 4/1965 Dobfmk eta1- 92-130 X Sald latchmg means; and HOUSTON s. BELL, JR., Primary Examiner.

tion system to energize said coil when closed to move U S C] X R said latch means to the unlatched position, whereby oil in said housing is discharged therefrom as said 10 9223; 184-48; 222-335 

